"What's exciting about it is not only looking at each animated series as what's the different tone, but what's the different technology we can apply to these things so that visually they're entirely different?” said Kurtzman.

Both animated episodes are set to debut on the CBS All Access streaming service in the spring, following the second season finale of Star Trek: Discovery. Lower Decks is being produced separately from these shorts, and is developed by Rick and Morty writer/producer Mike McMahan. Lower Decks will be a comedy about the support crew on "one of Starfleet’s least important ships,” and has received a two-season order.